Brian Falduto releases a new Christmas song for all of you single jinglers

Brian Falduto first gained fame playing the role of Fancy Pants in the Jack Black cult classic film School of Rock.  In 2023, he released his first country music song, “Same Old Country Love Song.” It was greeted with a flood of positive encouragement and excitement and would become an LGBTQ+ country music anthem.  Brian followed this up with “Hottest Guy Here” and “Big Boys Club, and his first full-length album, Gay Country (Deluxe Edition). Now, Brian is here to spread holiday cheer with his new singe and video for “Christmas Solo.”

This playful, country-pop tune shines a spotlight on those who find themselves alone during the holidays, reframing solo time as an opportunity for self-love and celebration.

Inspired by his own single years, Brian wrote “Christmas Solo” as a remedy to the seasonal blues that can come from the societal pressure to be partnered during the holidays. “I’ve spent many years single, and I’ve often felt out of place during the holiday season,” he explains. “The messaging around Christmas is so focused on being together with loved ones. But for many of us, especially those who are single by choice, it can feel isolating. I wanted to create a song that celebrates the beauty of being ‘self-partnered’ for the holidays and acknowledges that spending Christmas solo can be something joyful.”

In “Christmas Solo,” Brian invites listeners to view the season through a lens of positivity, whether they’re solo by choice or circumstance. Rather than the typical holiday fare focused on romantic love and longing, the song celebrates the freedom that comes with being single. “Why is there no holiday anthem for single people?” he asks. “Valentine’s Day and weddings celebrate love and relationships, but singles deserve an anthem, too. I wanted to give singles a chance to embrace the holiday spirit without feeling like something’s missing.”

Photo courtesy of Brian Falduto

Brian also shares the advantages of a solo Christmas, emphasizing the perks of having a low-key holiday. “You don’t have to dress up, make small talk, cook, or clean up after guests,” he laughs. “Spending Christmas solo gives you a rare chance to truly relax, decompress, and reflect on the season’s true meaning, away from all the holiday hustle and bustle.”

Beyond his music, he connects deeply with the themes in “Christmas Solo” due to his own experiences navigating the holidays as a queer individual. Reflecting on past seasons, he shares that, while he may not have always been physically alone, he often felt emotionally isolated. “The holidays can be a complicated time for the queer community, especially when returning to environments that don’t feel fully supportive. ‘Christmas Solo’ is for everyone who feels out of place this time of year, whether you’re physically alone or just feeling like you don’t belong.”

Holiday music fans will find both cheer and comfort in “Christmas Solo,” especially those who feel left out by traditional Christmas songs. “I love holiday music,” Brian says. “But so much of it focuses on romantic love or family togetherness. ‘Christmas Solo’ fills a gap for people who don’t fit that mold, who might need a little reminder that it’s okay to celebrate the season alone.”

We had a chance to chat with Brian about the new song and all things Christmas in our exclusive interview.

How did you develop your love of music?

My baby book says I was singing at age two, so the seed was planted early. I'd say I watered it in church. I joined the adult worship band in my congregation at a pretty early age and loved the challenge. The church community, in general, was always very supportive of me and my talents. Eventually I began taking singing lessons and auditioning, mostly for musical theater at first but then School of Rock came along and if starring in a movie about kids making music doesn't get you into music yourself then I don't know what will! 

What is it about country music that you find so appealing?

The storytelling. It's the most honest genre. Music, for me, has always been about moving people: Christian contemporary music is meant to inspire and uplift, musical theater is meant to awe and captivate. Country music does a little bit of all of that. Plus, it's such an umbrella term at this point. Many of the pop music sounds I grew up on would now be considered country music these days. 

Photo courtesy of Brian Falduto

I love the inspiration behind “Christmas Solo” and the video is so cute. How did that come together?

My songwriting style changes often. Sometimes I'll have a lyric or a melody and I'll build on that over time or sometimes, as was the case for ‘Christmas Solo', I'll have a concept or an idea for a song that I'll bring to a writing session and it will serve as inspiration for crafting a song. I tend to start with what I want to say and then the fun is discovering what melodies and chords and production arrangement best supports that. I was single for many (many, many) Christmases and I've had my fair share of tough holidays. I love Christmas music but it can all be a bit overwhelming to have all this messaging that we cannot and should not be alone for the holiday when some of us are, in fact, alone for the holiday. I wanted to reposition that notion as a good thing instead of a bad thing. The music video was not a big budget project by any means but the DIY vibes work perfectly because it really lets the audience into what it would look like if I were having a lot of fun spending Christmas Solo. 

Do you have a favorite holiday memory? 

My Christmas traditions fizzled out over the years, mostly because much of my family was on the older side, but we did have a tradition growing up that I loved. Every year my Aunt Mary would prepare the classic “seven fish” Italian dinner on Christmas Eve. We'd all go to her house and I'd get to see a group of family members from my Dad's side and those 12 or so people who came each year are the people I picture in my mind when I think of family. What's fun is that while the tradition has faded, my immediate family still hosts Aunt Mary (who is 102 years old!) at our house every year and we cook her the seven fishes. The irony of this being my favorite tradition is that as a vegetarian, I've never eaten seafood so I usually just munch on bread at the end of the table. 

Photo courtesy of Brian Falduto

Any holiday traditions? 

I'm in the process of finding new holiday traditions including a Friendsgiving with my chosen family and beginning to take on some of the traditions my partner has with his family. 

What is your favorite Christmas song? Christmas movie?

My favorite Christmas song is a bit of an obscure pick: “Christmas Time Again” by Extreme. It's just a random track on one of those “A Very Special Christmas” compilations but my mom used to blast it in the car around the holiday season so there's a lot of nostalgia associated with it. Plus, it's just a great tune. I don't really have a favorite Christmas movie – there are so many good ones that I return to – but I have made a habit of watching Bad Moms Christmas the past few years

What are you asking Santa for this Christmas? 

A Roomba. I'm over the cat hair everywhere. 

What’s next for you? 

I have quite a few projects in the works and am in a period of transition while I try to figure out what I want to say next and how I want to say it. This felt like the perfect time to release “Christmas Solo”; a good interim, one-off project to focus on in the meantime while I creatively recalibrate. 

Brian Falduto’s “Christmas Solo” is available on all streaming platforms. Follow Brian on FB,  IG, X and TikTok @BrianFalduto and visit his website .

Last update on 2024-12-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API